I was a Ralphie all these years and didn’t even realize it. Seems it’s the term used for fans of the yuletide favorite “A Christmas Story.”
Next month, Ralphies from across the country will gather for the annual “Christmas Story” convention in Cleveland, the site for the fictional film.
The event, to be held Nov. 28-29, will include eight of the original cast members including Ian Petrella (Randy), Scott Schwartz (Flick), Tedde Moore (Miss Shields), Zack Ward (Scut Farkus), Yano Anaya (Grover Dill), Dwayne McLean (Black Bart), Patty Johnson (Head Elf) and Drew Hocevar (Male Elf).
Hard to believe this year’s celebration will mark the film’s 25th anniversary.
It’s amazing how entrenched “Story” has become during that time, but it’s rare for any holiday film to be embraced with such enthusiasm. Every year we get at least one Christmas-themed movie hoping to join the ranks of “Story” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
They very rarely do. And yes, I’m talking about “Fred Claus.”
Perhaps only the 2003 movie “Elf” has become something of a yuletide staple in recent years, while movies like “Deck the Halls” and “Christmas with the Kranks” can barely lift our holiday spirits an inch.
Good thing we still have Ralphie to keep us company come Dec. 25.
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
i always watch ‘Die Hard’ during the holidays it is one of my favorite X-mas movies. i wanted to walk out of fred claus it was so bad but i was with a bunch of friends and family so i had to suffer through it.
I’m a Ralphie, too! And raising my kids to be Ralphies also. I love when they have the 24 hour marathon on tv just before Christmas. I was also very saddened when the director and his son were killed last year – he sure left a great legacy and wonderful gift to us with this film.
I had wanted a bb gun all my life … in Massachusetts that was akin to asking for a shotgun, not gonna happen.
when I was 17, in November, I drove with my friend Aran to the far away city of Danvers, nearest real movie theater (half hour away) and we saw this movie. When we came out of the theater, out of the blue (before the Weather Channel and the Internet and always on news) it was snowing … amazing.
I asked again for a bb gun.
At 17, I got one.
Not as much fun as I’d thought it would be, but still, pretty cool.
Great flick.
Fred Claus sucked.
The loss of Bob Clark was stunning … his career was certainly uneven, but he had one truly great film in him.
And regarding “Die Hard,” some classic films aren’t about Christmas necessarily, but in one way or another they really evoke the mood.
Just out of curiosity, why do they seem to release most Christmas themed movies at any time but Christmas?
I get the idea that they want to take advantage of big crowds during the summer months but I would think they might be able to draw larger ones if they released them between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Until I met my (to-be) wife, I had never seen the movie. She is a huge fan, and in addition to TBS’ 24-hour marathon, we purchased the DVD a couple of years ago since our VHS tape version of the movie was starting to wear from constant play.
Elf gets a lot of play in our house too, though I want to add one more to the “must-haves” for the season: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Vin – I used to think Christmas Vacation was overrated. Then I watched it again with fresh eyes a few years ago and truly loved it. Chevy may be on hard times now, but he turned in a terrific performance in “CV.”
Sometimes they release Christmas movies WAY too early. They put out “Surviving Christmas” so early a couple of years ago (oct. if memory serves) they were able to rush it out on DVD before that year’s Xmas. (it helped that it bombed and stayed in theaters only a few weeks).
I suspect some Christmas movies come out at diff times of the year so they can be ready for DVD release in time for the holiday season.
Agreed. Don’t forget about Randy Quaid’s great performance as well.
Vin — “Clark … shitter’s full!”
Quaid was never better.
speaking of Bob clark i have always thought his best film was ‘Black X-mas’ which came out before Halloween and Carpenter has admitted to stealing from it. I also heard that on Nov. 4th WB is releasing a collectors edition of ‘A Christmas Story’ on blu-ray and dvd. it comes packaged in a tin box with a cookbook and cookie cutters in the shape of ralphie,leg lamp and others and includes an apron and a string of xmas lights. So that should be pretty fun for diehard fans of the film. So i think i will be picking up the blu-ray since the dvd doesn’t look that good when it is upscaled on my big screen.
Coolest part of the scandalously-released-during-Yule “Die Hard” was the grim association I now have when listening to Beethoven’s 9th….
Coolest part about “Ralphie” Billingsley’s post “CS” career: executive-producing “Iron Man.”
Perhaps only the 2003 movie “Elf” has become something of a yuletide staple in recent years….
This simply isn’t true. It may be set to auto-run during the holidays so people can go home but Elf is not even a distant 10th to A Christmas Story
Will “Cow Bell” Ferrel is not a good actor or even a good person. He’s made only one half way decent movie and it’s forgotten.
Elf is simply not worth watching. It’s not remotely in the same league with A Christmas Story; no better than any other clunker on the list.
My wife might take a swing at you for saying that about “Elf,” Koblog! Ferrell’s career appears to be waning, and I’m not a fan of his politics, but “Elf” has plenty of charm and, for me, improves with each viewing. The final sleigh ride sequence is a bore, though. Thanks for checking in all the same.